Concealed hinge



July 9, 1940- J. A. LAwLER 2,206,904

GONCEALED HINGEA l Filed July 29, 1938 if l'll 'r Il' 5 l Ml lv| ZIO Il Z5' A TORNEYS.

Patented July 9, 1940 PATENT OFFICE- CONCEALED HINGE Jack A. Lawler, Franklin, Mich.,

assignor to Marvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 29, 1938, Serial No. 221,899 y 11 Claims.

This invention relates to hinges and more particularly to concealed hinges for doors as well as various types of closures. The invention is especially, although by no means exclusively,

6 adapted for utilization in connection with the hinging of Vehicle doors, particularly the doors of automobile bodies, and aswill be seen from al consideration of the embodiment herein eX- emplied the invention is susceptible of wide application or adaptation.

An object of the invention is to simplify and improve the hinge mountings for swinging closures, such as automobile doors or doors of other types of vehicles or of non-vehicular structures, l and to provide in a unitary hinge device a simple, eicient, sturdy, compact and practicable means for hingedly supporting the door or closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge device for a swinging closure, particularly for doors of substantial height, such as vehicle doors, which is so constructed and simplified as to enable a single relatively inexpensive unitary hinge device vmade in accordance with the invention to supplant a plurality of hinge devices heretofore resorted to for hingedly supporting the door or closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge device of the foregoing character which is concealed from view when the 30 door or closure is in closed position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved unit-type concealed hinge adapted to provide a single unitary means for swingingly mounting the door or closure upon the supporting frame thereof, the improved hinge device being of materially less height than the door yet providing ample bearing support for the door.

A further object is to provide a concealed hinge for a door or closure comprising a movable hinge member of substantial length adapted to be concealed within the supporting jamb or pillar of the door frame and having at least two bearing areas in its length including a ball-like bear- 45 ing portion carried within a concealed fixed hinge member, the movable hinge member being extended at opposite spaced ends for attachment to the door or closure at the jamb thereof.

Another object is to provide in a concealed hinge a fixed hinge member having a longitudinal bearing portion and a generally U-shaped movable hinge member, the central body portion of the latter extending through the bearing portion and having at least two spaced bearing areas therein, the ends of the body portion beyond opposite ends ofthe bearing portion beingextended generally at right angles or angularly to pass through the jamb or edge of the door for adjustable attachment thereto. In conjunction with the foregoing a preferred feature resides 5 in the provision in the length of the body portion and its Xed bearing, of a-ball and socket type bearing effective to sustain any end thrusts in a direction longitudinally of the central body portion. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide a `unitary concealed hinge device for a vehicle door, particularly an automobile door, of outwardly bowed or curved contour, the device providing a single hinge unit for the door of sturdy, durable construction, which may be more easily, quickly and cheaply installed and which may be readily and simply adjusted to properly line up or position the door in the door opening.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several Views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile having swinging doors or closures hingedly s'upported in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially through the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a section in elevation taken substantially through lines 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially through lines 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken subs-tantially through lines 5 5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines G S of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tol-the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and o-f being practiced or carried out in various ways. 50 Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art. 55

In the drawing there is illustrated, by way of example, a hinge device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention as applied to the swinging closures or doors B, C and E of an automobile body A, the latter, however, being illustrative of but one application of the invention. The construction and mounting of the hinge device is hereinafter described in connection with the front door B of the illustrated automobile body, it being understood that a generally similar mounting with suitable changes in design, dimensions and location may be utilized in connection with the rear door C and the swinging wheel closure E of the body.

The hinge device, which comprises a xed hinge member and a movable hinge member, is generally designated by the reference character D, the fixed hinge member being carried by the body and the movable hinge member, cooperating therewith, being secured to the door or closure. As is customary the swinging door swings into and out of the door opening dened by a suitable door frame, the upright portion of the frame to which the door is hinged being of reinforced nature and commonly termed a pillar or post. As illustrated in'Fig. 2, the marginal upright edge of the door opening, which forms the pillar upon which the hinge is supported, is formed between inner and outer pressed metal body panels IG and l I, the outer panel I i being anged in to provide an upright jamb IIa and secured to the inner panel I as by spot welding. A reinforcing upright channel member I2 may be spot welded along the inner face of the jamb and is provided at vertically spaced points with horizontal angular slots Ia for the passage of the end arms or crank arms of the movable hinge member as hereinafter described. The door B, and similarly the door C, may comprise an outer pressed metal door panel I3 and an inner upright pressed metal panel Ill suitably secured at I 3a to the outer panel and flanged to provide an upright structural pillar member forming a door jamb-edge facing the body jamb IIa.

The fixed hinge member, as also the major portion of the movable hinge member, is concealed within the hollow body pillar or post behind the jamb IIa. In the present instance the xed hinge member comprises two mating plates I5 and I8 of pressed steel which are positioned face to face and rigidly fastened together. As herein illustrated these plates are pressed or stamped to provide completemental and identical longitudinally extending grooves or generally concave channels I5b and Elib which face each other, when the plates are positioned together, to provide conjointly a continuous longitudinal bore or bearing socket Il extending from end to end of the fixed hinge member. Although for convenience two separate hinge plates I5 and I6 are shown, it will be understood that a single plate may be used and pressed with parallel grooves, after which the plate is bent at |60 (Fig. 2) to fold one portion back upon the other to provide the bore or bearing socket I1.

In the present instance the grooves or channels in the hinge plates I5 and l5, which together produce the bearing portion I1, are shaped or formed to provide a relatively short cylindrical bore I8. Immediately below the latter there is formed in the bore a partially spherical socket portion I9. Below the ball socket I9 the bore has a relatively long cylindrical portion which terminates in a portion 2l tapering slightly inward and eX- tendedfor a short distance to provide a cylindrical bore portion 22 of slightly smaller diameter than the bore portion 20. It will be seen that the various portions I8 to 22 inclusive of the longitudinal bore in the hinge plates I5 and I6 may be readily formed in a press by stamping.

The hinge plates I5 and I6 are placed together face to face and secured together in any suitable manner, such as by rivets 23 at the opposite ends thereof and spot welding 24 at intermediate points. The body portions oi the hinge plates I5 and Iii extend in a plane longitudinally of the door B, and for the purpose of mounting these plates they are provided with generally right angle transverse flanges l5a and Ilia which extend face to face of the intermediate web of the reinforcing channel I2. The flanges I5a and Ia are secured to the channel I2 and also to the,

jamb panel I Ia by through screws or bolts or the like 25.

The movable hinge member of the unit comprises a cylindrical shaft or rod 26 providing a pintle member which extends through the bearing socket I'l from end to end thereof. The vertical pintle ymember or spindle 2S may be provided with a cast or forged partially spherical ball 21 iitting within the correspondingly shaped partially spherical socket I9. The spindle 26 below the ball portion 2l has preferably a shank 2B of uniform diameter, this diameter being preferably slightly less than the diameter of the bore portion 2t and the tapered portion .2| so as to extend therethrough in non-bearing relation. The lower end portion 28a. of the spindle or pintle member 26 has a smooth bearing t within the bore portion 22, which has substantially the same diameter. The upper or opposite end of the spindle 26 preferably extends through the cylindrical bearing portion I8, above the ball and socket 21, I9, in non-bearing relation. Thus, in the preferred form the spindle or pintle member 26 has substantially two vertically spaced bearings within the longitudinal bearing socket or bore I'I, i. e., at the socket portion i9 thereof and at the reduced cylindrical end portion 22 thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. Intermediate these bearing portions, i. e., along the portions I8, 20 and 2l, the spindle or pintle has preferably a slight clearance, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The upper and lower ends of the spindle 2G are each bent angularly and transversely to provide at each end a crank arm portion 29 which terminates in an angularly related extension 30, extending longitudinally of the body or parallel to the plane of the door. The extension 30 in each instance has an exteriorly threaded end 3|, and this extension extends freely through the lateral slot |20, and thence through a hole 32 in the door jamb I4 and an inner reinforcing channel insert 33 secured to the jamb ange I4. Nuts 34 and 35 are threaded on each end 3l of the movable hinge member, these nuts being positioned at opposite faces of the jamb I4 and channel 33, washers 36 being interposed between the parts. By tightening the nuts the extensions 30 of the arms of the movable hinge member will be rigidly clamped to the door jamb. It is important to note that the holes 32 are somewhat greater in diameter than the diametervof the spindle extension 30. As a consequence, the door may be readily tted with accuracy within the door opening since the extension 30 is capable of transverse and vertical adjustment within the hole 32. Moreover, the door may be readily adjustes in a. longitudinn direction, 1. e., in its 1l plane. by adjusting the positions of theretaining nuts 34 and 35 on the threaded shank 3|.

' :From the foregoing it will be seen that the present hinge device provides two vertically spaced Supporting bearings inv preferably a unitary device, thus holding the door rigidly against weaving or sagging. Due to the improved construction the spaced bearings are always properly alined and the axis of turning of the movable hinge member is constant regardless of any adjustments of the door. The position of the door with respect to the upper and lower ends 30 of the movable hinge member may be readily and quickly adjusted in production on the assembly line or in service without any necessity of bending or forcing any parts of the hinge, as lby means of a lever or crow-bar, as is the common practice in present day production.

I claim:

1. In a hinge device for a swinging door or closure, a fixed hinge member formed by opposed upright plates having a longitudinal borelike passage therebetween provided with a partially spherical socket in its length, and a movable hinge member comprising a cylindrical shaft extending through the passage and bent at o-pposite ends substantially at right angles for attachment to the door jamb-edge, said shaft having a ball-like portion fitting said socket.

2. A hinge device according to claim 1 in which said passage has a cylindrical bearing at one end for the shaft, the ball and socket bearing being located at the opposite end.

3. A hinge device according to claim 1 in which said passage is of larger diameter than the shaft throughout its major length, there being a cylindrical bearing in the length of said passage for a portion of said shaft.

4. In a hinge device for a swinging door or closure, a xed hinge member comprising a pair of plate-like portions arranged face to face and pressed to provide complementary grooves forming together a bore-like passage open at opposite ends, a .movable hinge member comprising a cylindrical rod extending entirely through said passage and having generally right angle bends at opposite ends for attachment to the door, said passage and rod having a ball and socket end thrust bea-ring.

5. In a hinge device for a swinging door or closure, a fixed hinge member comprising a pair of plate-like portions arranged face to face and pressed to provide complementary grooves forming together a bore-like passage open at opposite ends, a movable hinge member comprising a cylindrical rod extending entirely through: said passage and having generally right angle bends at opposite ends for attachment to the door, said passage and rod having a ball and socket end thrust bearing at one end of the passage and a cylindrical bearing at the opposite end.

6. A hinge device for a swinging closure adapted to be mounted within an opening in a supporting frame, adjacent edges of the closure and frame having opposed jamb faces, comprising a fixed hinge member adapted to be concealed by the jamb face of the frame and comprising two parallel plate-like portions extending face to face and secured together, said portions being formed to provide a longitudinal bore-like passage, a movable hinge member having a shaft extending through said passage and having angular extensions at its opposite ends adapted to extend through the jamb face of the closure, said hinge members having an end thrust bearing portion adjacent one end of the passage, a cylindrical bearing portion adjacent the opposite end thereof, and a clearance between the shaft and the walls of the passage over `the major remaining length of the passage.

7. A hinge device for a swinging closure adapted to be mounted within an opening in a supporting frame, adjacent edges of the closure and frame having opposed jamb faces, comprising a fixed hinge member adapted to be concealed by the jamb face of the frame and comprising two parallel plate-like portions extending face to face and secured together, said portions being forrned to provide a longitudinal borelike passage and rigidly secured together along opposite sides of said passage, a movable hinge member having a shaft extending through said passage and having angular extensions at. its opposite ends adapted to extend through the jamb face of the closure, said shaft having a balllike thrust bearing in its length and said plate portions having a socket formed therein with which said bearing is cooperable.

8. A hinge device for a swinging closure adapted to be mounted within an opening in a supporting frame, adjacent edges of the closure and frame having opposed jamb facesfcomprising a fixed hinge member adapted to be concealed by the jamb face of the frame and comprising two parallel plate-like portions extending face to face and secured together, said portions being formed to provide a longitudinal bore-like passage and rigidly secured together along'opposite sides of said passage, a movable hinge member having a shaft extending through said passage and having angular lextensions at its opposite ends adapted to extend through the jamb face of the closure, said shaft having an integral ball-like thrust bearing, there being a correspondingly shaped socket formed in the length of said passage within which said bearing is engageable.

9. A hinge device for a swinging closure adapted to be mounted within an opening in a supporting frame, adjacent edges of the closure and frame having opposed jamb faces, comprising a fixed hinge member adapted to be concealed by the jamb face of the frame and comprising two parallel plate-like portions extending face to face and secured together, said portions being formed to provide a longitudinal bore-like passage and rigidly secured together along opposite sides of said passage, a movable hinge member having a shaft extending through said passage and having angular extensions at its opposite ends adapted to extend through the jamb face of the closure, said hinge members having a ball and socket portion adjacent one end of the passage and a cylindrical bearing portion adjacentthe opposite end.

10. In a hinge device, a fixed hinge member comprising a pair of opposed plate members provided with a longitudinal bore-like passage therebetween and rigidly secured together along opposite sides of said passage, and a movable hinge member comprising a one-piece substantially U- shaped rod extending through said passage and formed with angular bends at opposite ends beyond the passage for attachment to the jamb edge of ar closure, said hinge members having a ball and socket end thrust bearing located between said angular bends.

11. In a vehicle body having a metal door and a metal post supporting the same, the door and post having opposed jamb faces and being hollow in rear of said faces, a fixed hinge member corndoor' lamb-edge, means for attaching said bent ends to the door, and cooperating end thrust bearing means between said rod and bore, said end thrust bearing means comprising a ball-like portion integral on the rod and a bearing socket 5 Jtherefor formed as an enlargement in said bore.

JACK A. LAWLER. 

